Groundbreaking local trial aims to shorten prostate radiation to two visits
The Jack Ady Cancer Centre in Lethbridge has begun a researcher-led clinical trial that could sharply reduce the number of radiation treatments required for some prostate cancer patients. The trial, announced Wednesday, tests whether a newer form of focused radiation can safely bring treatment schedules down from the currently accepted five weekly sessions to just two treatments for select patients.
Prostate radiation historically involved up to 39 daily treatments delivered over several weeks. Over the past decade, stereotactic techniques have already shortened that regimen in many jurisdictions to five sessions, delivered once weekly. The new Lethbridge trial explores the next step in that evolution using Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), a high-precision approach that concentrates radiation on the tumour while sparing surrounding tissue.
Dr. Charles Kirkby, a senior medical physicist at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre, is the lead investigator on the project. He told reporters the idea grew from a challenge posed by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
"I guess about two years ago the Alberta Cancer Foundation put out a challenge, they called it the gamechanger," Kirkby said. "We started to think about, well what are the ways that we could really change the game when it comes to cancer treatment."
The trial represents a milestone for southern Alberta. According to a news release, it is the first time in Alberta’s history that a cancer centre outside of Calgary or Edmonton is hosting a researcher-led cancer clinical trial. That distinction underlines both the technical capability now available in Lethbridge and growing opportunities for regional centres to participate in clinical research traditionally concentrated in large urban hospitals.
What the trial tests and why it matters locally
Organizers say SBRT already allows many patients to move from schedules of dozens of daily visits to the standard five-session approach. The Lethbridge study asks whether some patients can be treated safely with just two high-dose SBRT sessions. If the protocol proves effective and tolerable, the benefits for patients and health services could be substantial.
- For patients: fewer trips to the cancer centre, less disruption to work and family life, and a shorter overall treatment period.
- For the health system: potential to increase treatment capacity and reduce clinic load per patient — a consideration for centres managing growing caseloads.
- For Lethbridge: enhanced profile as a regional hub for advanced oncology care and clinical research.
The trial builds on local expertise in prostate cancer treatment and on emerging evidence supporting SBRT’s effectiveness. Organizers emphasise the study will recruit only select patients who meet strict eligibility criteria; safety and monitoring will be central to the protocol.
| Treatment approach | Typical number of sessions | Delivery pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional radiation | Up to 39 | Daily sessions over several weeks |
| Standard SBRT | 5 | Once-weekly sessions |
| Lethbridge researcher-led trial | 2 (trial) | Two high-dose SBRT sessions for selected patients |
While local clinicians are optimistic about the potential to shorten treatment, the trial’s immediate value is in rigorous evaluation. The study will collect outcomes on tumour control, side effects and patient experience to determine whether the two-session approach is safe and effective compared with current standards.
For Lethbridge-area patients, that means access to cutting-edge care and to a protocol that could reduce travel and treatment time without leaving town for care in Calgary or Edmonton. For the Jack Ady Cancer Centre, hosting the trial marks a step toward offering more clinical research locally and strengthening ties to provincial research initiatives.
Further details about eligibility, recruitment and timelines were not released at the press briefing. The centre says it will provide information to clinicians and prospective participants as the trial enrols patients.
